Human Rights Campaign

Assuring civil rights for all residents has been an important issue for R&R Partners since the company as founded in 1974, so of course it remains an agenda item for the R&R Foundation. The fight to establish across the board civil rights protection for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Nevada has been among the work that R&R’s employees are most proud of, which led to a natural partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and other key LGBT organizations. The Nevada Chapter of HRC is comprised of volunteers from the LGBT community, and their straight allies, who are actively involved in supporting legislative changes, public education, and awareness training in our public schools – teaching tolerance and supporting equality.

An important part of this is the anti-bullying campaign “Flip the Script,” which sprang from our work with HRC and the alarming rise in bullying of LGBT youth. The Foundation also assists HRC with its marketing needs for the annual Dinner Gala, which raises funds for HRC programs and celebrates the work of the previous year. In 2010, there was much to celebrate with the landmark passage of the Nevada Domestic Partnership Bill, and in 2009, R&R Partners was given the Pioneer honoree.

In 2010, the keynote address was delivered before a crowd of 600 by United States Senator Harry Reid, a strong partner in the fight for equal rights. Celebrity appearances included Holly Madison; Penn & Teller; Alec Mapa, cast member of Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives; Josh Strickland; Anthony Cools; Bobby Slayton; Tim Weaver, celebrity chef; Le Reve cast members; Phantom cast members and Jubilee!showgirls. Honorees included Bob Forbuss, who received  the “Lifetime Achievement Award” and Chris Giunchigliani, who was the recipient of HRC’s “Community Ally Award.” Both are longtime activists in the fight for LGBT equality.

The annual event raises more than $175,000, goes toward advancing local, state and federal ordinances/legislation, and funding work with coalition partners on a range of topics including trans-education.